The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-02-11

over some thing in their midst.
"Git along there! Whoa, january"
they cried; and as the crowd parted for
an instant, Myrtle caught sight of the
two forlorn little kittens that these cruel
lads were dragging along by strings
about their necks, and prodding them
on with pins and sharp sticks. A love
for animals and dumb creatures of every
sort was Myrtle's strongest point, and
now without a moments hesitation she
dashed impulsively right in among the
young street arabs, eXelaiming: "You
cruel, cruel boys, to tease these little
creatures sor' and caught one of the
kittens in her arms.
For a second the Ias5,s were opita
taken aback, ten one said. "See here,
Missy we don't want to be sassy to a
, young lady, but you'd better drop that
| critter, if yer know when you're we'll
of. " what are you going to do with
| themP" she demanded, with flashing
! eyes, while the little cat clung implor-
/ ingly TO her neck. Have some fun
| with EN- and then drop 'em off the
dock" responded the spokesman of
the party. But your sport is cruel,
mean and unmanlyr cried MYRTLE.
''poOr, poor little thingsr' as the kit
tens mewed piteously. please give
them to me. mo, stree! THEY'RE
our beastlesS, and we mean to have a
circus with 'em." In vain MYRTLE
| cOaXed, pleaded and threatened. The
| boys laughed at the police and scoffed
at her entreaties; until at last, a little
fellow, with a singular old, keen face,
suggested: 'Mebbe the young lady
would buy the wretches."
Il will viii give you dollar for
them, said Myrtle. mot enough, &"
grunted the leader, with wink at his
companions, Two dollars then" for
the tiny claws clutchinh her shoulder
were Juggling at her heart-strings.
''Make it three and it's a bargain. "
The girl hesitated; there were only four
dollars in her purse, and Hilda's pic
ture was fading away into uncertainty.
''Itis an outrageous price, " she thought,
but as one of the youths laid a rough
hand on the kitten and tried to drag it
from her arms she succumbed, paid the
money and, as the noisy party departed
| WIN AACObo anu NLCtiSs W d6 lGlb SBduNl-
ing alone in the frosty street, with the
two dirty kittens cuddled up against
her seal-skin.
At a corner store she purchased a
basket to carry them home in; butas she
wendell her way uptown her thoughts
We're not Of the happiest. Her excite
ment and Indignation had subsidized and
she said to herself: What an advan-
tage those horrid boys took of mel and
how the girls will laugh at me, for it is
useless to think of Hilda's picture now!'
So by the time the school was reached
she quite regretted her bargain, and
was not treasured by meeting Bertha
and May on the doorstep, one bearing
fancy basket heaped with golden Flor
ida oranges and rich clusters of grapes,
and the other a box glittering with sill
yer and gold.
Here comes Myrtle with her grand
valentine" they exclaimed, "do let us
have a peep at the mystery" But
with shake of the head Myrtle dashed
past them, upstairs, into her own cham
ber and here her roommate, Daisy,
found her an hour later, feeding the
kittens with some milk she had begged
from the cook, and watering their
grimy little heads with her tears.
Daisy came in like a small whirlwind,
exclaiming, ooh, Myrtle, l have or
derod the loveliest bouquet of roses; so
now, do let me see your valentine -
Then stopping short. "Why, where in
the world did those scrawny creatures
come from?" and then between crying
and laughing Myrtle told how she had
gone out to get the beautiful pictures
Of st. Valentines Eve and come back
with two half starved kittens instead
ending with, land now Ihave only fifty
cents left and don't know what to do
for Hilda, while YOU girls must feel as
if had regularly cheated you"
I'VE won't at all, said Daisy, con-
solingly, Though you certainly are a
queer girl, Myrtle.'' Il know it
mother always says 1 never look before
leap, but l can't bear to see any thing
tormented." THAT is a good kind OF
queerness, - said Daisy, who was a born
comforter-''and / really think these
pussies would be quite pretty, if they
were only clean. Perhaps if they were
fixed up a little they might answer fol
a valentine. / know Hilda loves ami
j mails"
"a funny sort of valentine" laughed
Myrtle, but it was a CLEAN of hope, anC
, both girls set to work with soap anC
water, and gave the little kittens sucl
, a scrubbing as I hope few felines arr
2 subjected to. They rebelled, of course
] but afterward went TO sleep in a warn
shawl as contented as possible; anC
+ when they were dried and combed tn,
= girls could hardly believe they were tn,
r same animals. They are perfec
D beauties - said Daisy, real Maltes,
i and white, with such bright eyes anC
p cunning pink noses! They are better
p than st. Valentines Eve, l think.
r THAT is because You have not an arts
tic soul" returned Myrtle, but sh,
( nevertheless danced for Joy, and hunteC
S up some pink and blue ribbons witt
{ which To adorn the soft little balls o
- fur, and then invited the other girls il
( to see her '"Cupids,' as she calle'
] them, when such peals of laughter is
r sued from the room that Madam Vernon
r Knocked nc the door to inquire the Gauss
4 of what appeared to her such unseen
I ~ mirth.'
% "Hnda, Hilda, sweetheart see wha
the postman has left for theei crieC
v Faulein Won Hillern, hurrying int,
z the room where the sick girl lay list
= lessly lingering the first snow-drop tina
S had appeared in her window garden
i alt must be "a valentine for my swee
e | oner' "A valentine, who would sen,
r. me "a valontinerf said Hilda bitterly
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